College of Arts and Sciences

THE MISSION OF THE COLLEGE

It is the mission of the College of Arts and Sciences to deliver a first-rate education dedicated to the traditions and values of the liberal arts. These traditions include developing the skills of critical reasoning, writing, reading and deduction and providing a firm grounding in the theories and methodologies of the humanities, social and natural sciences and mathematics. These values include a commitment to rigorous questioning of principles and practices, intellectual integrity, community responsibility and diversity of perspectives in the pursuit of truth and social justice. Fundamental to a liberal education is the acquisition, preservation and transmission of new ideas and knowledge. Study within the College of Arts and Sciences broadens and enriches students’ intellectual and cultural background. The college provides a core curriculum for all students whatever their major fields or career goals. With specialized and interdisciplinary programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels, the college strives to offer a wide variety of learning and research opportunities to its students, guided by nationally and internationally renowned faculty—faculty as passionate and intent on adding to human understanding as they are to passing this understanding on to future generations. The liberal arts provide both a rich variety of fields of academic specialization and a vital base for professional, creative and technological study.

Students pursuing degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences are introduced to a variety of disciplinary and intellectual perspectives through the college’s General Requirements. These requirements provide a solid foundation in essential communications skills and mathematics; a strong and varied background in the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences; and, for most students, study of a foreign language as a tool for approaching another culture. These requirements thus supply a broad acquaintance with the traditional liberal arts and a firm basis for more specialized study.

All students in the college select at least one area of academic specialization. This area of specialization may be within one of the traditional disciplines, it may be interdisciplinary or it may be self-designed. Students may also pursue a second major area or one or more minor areas of specialization.

In addition to general requirements and the specific requirements within the areas of specialization, students have elective hours that may be used to pursue secondary areas of specialization, to explore areas of general interest or to take additional coursework within the area of specialization or in related areas. Elective coursework in the liberal arts provides not only a sound basis for more specialized learning but also intellectual enrichment that is of lasting value to any student in the university.

Study in the liberal arts provides a basis for success in a wide variety of careers. In addition to preparing students for later professional study, it provides communication skills, analytical tools and mental flexibility necessary for success in adapting to changing careers in a changing world. Above all, study in the liberal arts prepares students for a lifetime of learning experiences and for personal and intellectual as well as professional growth.

GENERAL COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS

Students complete the university's Kent Core and diversity course requirements. Additional courses must be completed in the College General Requirements. Students should consult the College Office if they have questions concerning the applicability of specific coursework to the General Requirements. None of the courses listed as part of the College’s General Requirements may be taken pass/fail.

For the purposes of the General Requirements, students’ major departments are defined as the departments that house the major, field of concentration or interdisciplinary program. For students in double major and dual degree programs, the restrictions on the applicability of major coursework toward the General Requirements are applied to only one of their majors (generally the primary major).

Courses that have a domestic diversity focus are marked with a "D." Courses that have a global diversity focus are marked with a "G". A listing is available of all courses that fulfill both the Kent Core and diversity requirements. Laboratory courses are marked with a "LAB."

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF ARTS

COMPOSITION (6 credit hours)
Placement by ACT/SAT English composition scores; students may be required to take ENG 11001 Introduction to College Writing–Stretch

MATHEMATICS AND CRITICAL REASONING (3-5 credit hours)
MATH 14001 and 14002 may be used to meet the requirement provided both courses were completed while students were enrolled in another college.

HUMANITIES AND FINE ARTS (9 credit hours)
At least one course must be selected from the Humanities in Arts and Sciences/Communication Information area, and a least one course must be selected from the Fine Arts area. Any course marked with a "D" or "G" that is taken to satisfy the humanities and fine arts will also satisfy the diversity requirement.

SOCIAL SCIENCES (6 credit hours)
Courses must be selected from at least two curricular areas. Any course marked with a "D" or "G" that is taken to satisfy the social sciences will also satisfy the diversity requirement.

DIVERSITY COURSESAll students must complete a two-course diversity requirement, consisting of one with a domestic focus and one with a global focus. At least one course must be taken from courses that are marked above as global (G) or domestic/U.S. (D). This course may count both for the diversity requirement and for the Kent Core category in which it is listed. The second course may be from the major department; however, it might not apply toward the Humanities, Fine Arts or Social Sciences category. Visit the Diversity page for a complete course listing.

SOCIAL SCIENCES (3 credit hours)
One additional course taken from the Kent Core Social Sciences courses in the following Arts and Sciences disciplines: Anthropology (ANTH), Applied Conflict Management (CACM), Geography (GEOG), Criminology and Justice Studies (JUS), Political Science (POL), Psychology (PSYC), Sociology (SOC). This course may not be from the student's major.

BASIC SCIENCES (3 credit hours)
One additional course taken from the Kent Core Natural Sciences courses in the following Arts and Sciences disciplines: Anthropology (ANTH), Biological Sciences (BSCI), Chemistry (CHEM), Geography (GEOG), Geology (GEOL), Physics (PHY). This course may not be from the student's major.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE (14-20 credit hours)*
Elementary I and II of the same language
Plus one of the following options:

a. Intermediate I and II of the same language**
b. Elementary I and II of a second language
c. Any combination of two courses from the following list:

Intermediate I of the same language
MCLS 10001 Introduction to Structural Concepts for Language Students
MCLS 20000 global Literacy and Cultural Awareness

*All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may begin their university foreign language experience beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by: (1) passing a course beyond the Elementary I through Intermediate II level or (2) receiving credit through Credit by Exam (CBE), the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Advanced Placement (AP) exam or credit through the International Baccalaureate (IB) program; or (3) being designated a "native speaker" of a non-English language (consult with the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office for additional Information) . When students complete the requirement with fewer than 14 credit hours and four courses, they will complete the remaining hours with general electives.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

COMPOSITION (6 credit hours)
Placement by ACT/SAT English composition scores; students may be required to take ENG 11001 Introduction to College Writing–Stretch

MATHEMATICS AND CRITICAL REASONING (3 credit hours)
MATH 14001 and 14002 may be used to meet the requirement provided both courses were completed while students were enrolled in another college.

HUMANITIES AND FINE ARTS (9 credit hours)
At least one course must be selected from the Humanities in Arts and Sciences/Communication Information area, and a least one course must be selected from the Fine Arts area. Any course marked with a "D" or "G" that is taken to satisfy the humanities and fine arts will also satisfy the diversity requirement.

SOCIAL SCIENCES (6 credit hours)
Courses must be selected from at least two curricular areas. Any course marked with a "D" or "G" that is taken to satisfy the social sciences will also satisfy the diversity requirement.

DIVERSITY COURSESAll students must complete a two-course diversity requirement, consisting of one with a domestic focus and one with a global focus. At least one course must be taken from courses that are marked above as global (G) or domestic/U.S. (D). This course may count both for the diversity requirement and for the Kent Core category in which it is listed. The second course may be from the major department; however, it might not apply toward the Humanities, Fine Arts or Social Sciences category. Visit the Diversity page for a complete course listing.

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE
Foreign Language (8-10 credit hours)*
Elementary I and II of the same language

* All students with prior foreign language experience should take the foreign language placement test to determine the appropriate level at which to start. Some students may begin their university foreign language experience beyond the Elementary I level and will complete the requirement with fewer credit hours and fewer courses. This may be accomplished by: (1) passing a course beyond the Elementary I through Intermediate II level or (2) receiving credit through Credit by Exam (CBE), the College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Advanced Placement (AP) exam or credit through the International Baccalaureate (IB) program; or (3) being designated a "native speaker" of a non-English language (consult with the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office for additional Information) . When students complete the requirement with fewer than 8-10 credit hours and four courses, they will complete the remaining hours with general electives.

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